BREAKING NEWS: Third emergency room closure at Merritt Hospital in the past seven days

Merritt and area residents have to endure yet another closure of it’s emergency department.

Interior Health says the emergency room will be closed from 7 p.m. tonight (Nov. 22) until 8 am Saturday  (Nov.23).

This marks the third such closure of the emergency room in the past seven days and the 19th closure of 2024.

The emergency room was closed for 25 hours from Saturday Nov. 16 to Sunday Nov. 17 then again on Monday Nov. 18 to Tuesday Nov. 19.

Once again, Interior Health did not provide an explanation for the closure.

Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops, however those needing access care in Kamloops should expect slippery conditions on all highways this evening and overnight as temperatures drop overnight.

The health authority also notes that all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital.